Attachment for sewing machines



`Ofzt. 23,1945. c, J. DAvll-:s'

ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet vl Filed Aug. 2', 1943 CLARENCE o o/Avlis ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1945. Ac.. J. DAVIES m 2,387,649

` l ATTACHMENT FOR vsE'wING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2, 194:5 5 Sheets-sheet 2 `1NV11N101L GLARENGE .LoAvu-:s

v ATTORNEYS Oct-23, 1945. c. J. DAvlEs 2,387,649

' ATTACHMENT FR'v SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug.' 2., 1943 5 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR;

cLAR E NGE .1. D Avles ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1945. c. J. DAvlEs 2,387,649

ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2, 1943 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. CLARENCE J.DAVIES MLM/w@ A TfQRNEYs OC. 23, Q 1 DAVlEs v ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 2, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A INVENTQR.

CLARENCE .1. oAvlEs ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 23, 1945 Clarence J. Davies, Detroit, Mich., assignor'toNa- 'tional Automotive Fibres, Inc.,"Detroit, Mich.,y a

corporation of'Delaware l@Application August 2, 1943,.zSerialNoedSlwGS 15 claims. (c1. 11e-118) JThis invention relates generallytoattachments forsewingfmachines vand refers more particularly to:,an attachment'forsewing quilts and the like.

A.One of .the .essential objects lofthe inventionl is to .provide `an attachment having means for moving the material :to be quiltedin a predetermnedemannerrelative'to the needle of the sewing .machine so that such material will be prol vided .with a particular pattern or formation of stitching.

Another .object is to provide an attachment capablesof providing laminated material, such as twolayers .of fabrieand an intermediate layer of fibrous materialfwith zigzag stitching.

Another :object 'is :to provide an attachment wherein lthe means aforesaid lforemovingithe materialrelative to the needle to obtain `the 4stitchingmentioned isloperated in timed relation to the advancementof the rmaterialthrough the attachment.

:Another object is to provide an attachment wherein the movement of the material relative to the needle is regular so "that lthe pattern or formation of. .the lstitching is uniform. Y

.Another -object is to provide ``an attachment thatis feicientincineration-and capable of lproviding the stitching at a minimum of expense.

The foregoing,as wenas-other objectspwill be made more apparent asfthis description proceeds, especially :whenA considered-in connectionl with the accompanyinghrawings, wherein:

Figure ,-1 :is .a front elevational v.view of anattachment `embodying :my invention, '.with parts broken .away -in section Igure 2is1a top'plan :view of :the structure illustratedin 'Figure f1;

y.liigure .3 `is a side elevation lof :thewstructure illustrated. in .Figure .11

lFigure 4,.,is atop plan View ofaportion-orthe structure `illustrated in Figure. 3';

Figure ,45 isa detailed elevational view of `one of-thezspikedzwheel sectors;

Figure 6 'is anedge elevational :view `of fthe strncturezillustratedinliigure iFigureuF `is audetaled :view :off one .ofi` the spiked wheel sectorielements;

. is l-.adetailed elevational -view .of one of.:- the spiked ,wheels ;y

.-9 fis 'aldiagrammatic view yof `the zigzag stitching :produced by my attachment; :and

figure T10 is la lfragmentary kvertical sectional viewethrough the fmaterialto f be e sewed forl quilted. R erringnow to the drawings, A ris Ya sewing machine `attachment :embodying my invention having `frollers :t0: and --II :respectively and an :in-

termediate `horiz ontal rplate-flke support or table L2 over which thematerial-B to, be eenieder quilted :is advanced, :and having spiked wheels vI3 and I4 respectively below and adjacent the-,rollersl and Il for moving :the material B transversely back androrth on thehorizontal support L2 Yreative-to its course `ofV advancement.

Preferably thematerial '.B to be ,Served has 11D- per and lower layers 4I5 and 15 respectively of fabric or sheeting.` and V.an intermediate layer ,H of cotton or other brous F.material and :passes overand downwardly around thefroller Into :the spiked .wheels 13,;thence d ovvnwardly:around and beneath the spiked wheels Ii3 to the "hirizontal support `I 2, thence `over `.the horizontal Lsupport i 2 tothe .underside of the :spiked wheels `L4 thence upwardly: around the yspiked wheels I 4 to .the `roller II, and thence upwardly iaround and over. the roller Il ,to .a roll or other .Suitable means `(not shown) for receiving the vmaterialafter it leaves the attachment.

I8 isa vertically reciprocating :needle of va sewing machine (not shown) -zengageable with the materialfB "as .itis moved transversely hack .and forth on `the horizontal support IZby the `spiked wheels I3 vand AIII and Vprovided with lsuitable thread L9 to-,provide the :materialB with Zig/Zag stitching 20.

. .In the present instance theroller Il is power driven and cooperates with agpressure Vroller 2| to draw the material B through ,theattachment As shown the roller I-l has trunnions v22 and 23 respectively journaledin upright side plates `24 and `25 ,respectively of the ,attaahment and 'is driven by mitre gears .26 and2lshaft ,2,8, wom 29 and worm wheel .30 from amain drive shaft 3|. Preferablythe surface 32 of the roller LI is roughened ,or serrated `for proper ,non-,slip engagement witntne material B. .More specifically,

the mitre gears 26` and.j,21 are rigid with the shaft 28 and trunnion ,23 respectively, .The shaft 28 is iournaled in bearinetblocks r and 86 reepetively rigid withgtheside *plates 25and `2'! respectively. The worm'29 'isrigid with the s1ha`ft'3l and Vmeshes withthe Vworm wheel 30 which in turn is rigid with the v shaft 28. An-ysuitable meanssuchas a-gear 3Ia'andpinion 31h-may lbe employed for rotating the drive-,shaft "3L The roller IIl ismerely Van idler and has -a shaft 40 journaled freely in side1p1ates 3l and `-IH respectively of the attachment. The surface of this roller 'I D maybe smooth.

Preferably the pressure roller `2i has-suitable trunnions v'l2 and 13 respectively Yjournaled in bearing blocksM and #l5` that in turn` are slidable vertically in suitable slots 46 and 41 respectively and the upright side plates 24 and 25 of the attachment. Coil springs 49 sleeved on adjusting screws 50 threadedly engaging caps 5I for the side plates 24 and 25 bear downwardly upon the blocks 44 and 45 and normally maintain the pressure roller 2| in firm engagement with the material B, on the roller II. Any suitablemeans such as` cam` 60 pivoted upon the outer sides lof the side plates 24 and 25 and engageable with lifting discs 6| on the trunnions 42 and 43 of the pressure roller 2| may be operated by hand levers 62 to lift the pressure roller 2| against the tension of the springs 49 relative to the roller II when it is desired to stop the feed of material B through the attachment.

The spiked wheels I3 at the rear of the attachment are free to turn on pins YIII carried by in clined parallel arms 1I and 12 respectively vof sleeves 13 mounted to turn on cylindrical portions 14 of horizontal pivot elements 15 fastened to asuitable upright supporting plate V1li at the rear of the attachment. 11 aregear Vsectors integral with the sleeves 13 and meshing with a longitudinally movable horizontal rack 18 slidably-engaging portions 19 and 80 respectively of the supporting plate 16 and of a retainer bar 8| v fastened to said supporting plate.

Likewise the spiked wheels |4.at the front ofY the attachment are free to turn on pins S0 car. ried by inclined parallel arms 9| and 92 respectively of sleeves 93 mounted to turnon cylindrical portions 94 of horizontal pivot elements 95 fastened to a suitable upright supporting plate 96 at the front of the attachment. 91 are gear sectors integral with the sleeves 93 and meshing with a longitudinally movable horizontal rack 98 slidably engaging portions 99 and |00 respectively of the supporting plate 95 and of. a` retainer bar I0| fastened to said supporting plate 96.

|02 is a connecting shaft journaled in the front and rear supporting plates 96 4and 16 and. providedA with lgear sectors |03 and V|04 respectively that imesh' with the vracks 18 and 98 respectively.' Thus 'the racks move in unison and cause the sleeves '13 and93 to rock or turn on their pivot elements and V95 so that the'spiked wheels I3 and I4 Vwill tilt or swing sideways and thereby movie: the material B `las-it isA advanced transversely back and-Aforthlon the horizontal support I2 relative to the needle I8r of the sewing machine.V AAsa result, the stitching produced in the material B bythe threaded needle I8 will'be zigzaginconguration, as illustrated in Figure 9.

Preferably the spiked wheels I3 and |4-VN are operated `regularly and in timed relation to the advancement off the material B through'th'e attachment sothat the zigzag pattern or'formation of the stitching 20 is uniform. For example,y |95 is a roller pivoted on the rack 18 and engaging a camgroove" |06 in a wheel |01 fixed to a shaft |08 disposed parallel tothe main drivel shaft 3| and journaled inthe uprightside plate 31 and in a bracket. |09 of the attachment. |I0 is a'shaft also journaledin lthe side plate 31 and bracket |09 between and parallel to theI cam lshaft |08 and main drive shaft 3|, IIIv is a pinion fixed to the drive shaft, |I2 is a-gear fixed to the intermediate shaft |I0 and meshing with the pinion Il l'so. as to be driven thereby, I I3is apinion fixed to the intermediate shaft IIO, and1||4 is a gear fixed to the cam shaft |08 andI meshing ,with the pinion I I3 so as to bedriventhereby.

Thus, the cam wheel I|01, as well as the feed roller II for the material B, is driven from the main drive shaft 3|.

The base |20 of the attachment upon which the bracket |09, upright plates 24, 25, 31, 16, 96, etc., and associated parts are mounted may be attached by any suitable means (not shown) to any suitable part (not shown) of the sewing machine having the vertically reciprocating needle I8A so that thehorizontal support I2 for the material Bl will be "in the proper' position relative to said needle. If desired, the attachment A Vand sewing machine or the sewing head thereof may have a common mounting or support so that the parts will be in proper position relative to ieach other.' vLikewise the source of power for the main driveshaft 3| of the attachment may I3 and I4 and thence upwardly, and outwardly` between the cooperating'rollers II and 2| toa suitable receiving roller or device (not shown). As the material B is advanced over the'hor'izontal support |2, it is moved transverselyY back and forth thereon by the rack actuated spiked wheels I3 and I4 swinging sideways in unison in the front and rear Vof the attachment. The threaded needle I8 of the sewing machine (not shown) reciprocates vertically inthe usual man,-

ner and provides approximately seven stitches in one 'line as the material is moved-transversely backwhile being advanced, and provides approxi-` mately seven stitches in a line disposed substantially at rightlangles to the line just mentioned as the material is moved forth transversely while beingadvanced. Thus, the zig zag-stitching 20 is provided inthe material B by the threaded needle `I8 as the` -ma'terial is movedltransversely back and forth relative thereto while-being advanced. l "j 1 3 VWhat I claimv as myginvention is :A

,1. An attachment fora sewing machine having a vertically` reciprocating: vthreadedv needle,

comprising a drive shaft, means operable by said p shaft for advancing materialto be :sewed in a given direction beneath said needle, a rotary cam operable by said shaft, operatively connected racks` operableby said cam, pivotally. mounted members having gear sectors operable v.by vsaid rackspand `spiked wheels carried bysaid pivotally mounted members and operable vwhen',thellgear sectors are operatedby said; racks tomovelthe material beneath` said 'needle transversely' `back and forth relative to` the Vgiven directionyaforesaid so that said threadedneedle will provide the material with zigzag stitching. 135911 ,l

2. An attachment 'for a sewing vmachine having a vertically reciprocating "threaded needle, cornprlsing a substantially horizontal platel-like mem-A ber for supporting material adjacent said' needle to be sewn, means for advancingimaterial to` be sewn over ,said plate-like member; landmea'ns for shftingthe advancing material Aback and forth acrossthe plate-like member relative to said reciprocating needle to 'produce zigzag stitches ini'said material, including 1 swingingly, mounted spikedwheels disposed respectivelyin advance and in rear of said plate-like member.. andengageable witnsaid advancingimaterial, and means forswinging 4said 'spiked wheels vin unison substantially' at right angles to the .path` of advancement `of said material.

3. iAnattachment for aisewing machine having a'vertically reciprocating threaded needle, ucomprising asubstantially horizontal plate-like mem- `ber for l'suppor'ting material adjacent said needle ftolbe sewn, means for advancing material to be sewn over said .plate-like member, substantially aligned pivots disposed respectivelyin advance and in rear of said plate-like member, and means for shiftin'g'the advancing material back and forth 'across vthe plate-like member relative to said reciprocating needle to |produce zigzag stitches in said material, including separate rotatable elements mounted to swing on said aligned pivots and engageable with said advancing material,"and means for swinging said rotatable elements in unison at an angle to the path of advancement of said material.

4; An attachment for a sewing machine having a `vertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising a substantially horizontal plate-like member for supporting material adjacent said needie to be sewn, means.for advancing material toV be sewn over said plate-like member, substantially aligned pivots disposed respectively in advance and in rear of said plate-like member, and `means for shifting the advancing material back and forth across the plate-like member relative Sto said reciprocating lneedle to produce zigzag stitches in said material, including separate rotatable elements mounted to swing on said aligned pivots and engageable with said advancing material, and means also in advance and in rear of said plate-like member Yand operable in unison for swinging said rotatable elements in timed relation to the advancement of said material. v

5. An attachment fora sewing machine having a vertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising a substantially horizontal plate-like engageable with ksaid advancing material, Jgeai sectors rigid with said sleeves'and longitudinally movable racks meshing with said gear sectors.-

'7.An attachment for a sewing machine rhaving a yvertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising `asubstantially horizontal plate-like member for supporting material adjacent said needle to 'be sewn, means for advancing material to 'besewn over said plate-like member, substantially aligned'- pivots in advance and in rear of said plate-like member, and means for shifting the advancing material back and forth across the plate-like member relative to said reciprocating needle to produce zigzag stitches in said material, including sleeves mounted to turn on said pivot elementsand having rigid arms extending toward the path of advancement-of said material, rotatable elements carried by said arms at fthe free ends thereof and engageable with lsaid advancing material, and means for turning said sleeves to swing! said arms and rotatable elements carried thereby, including gear sectors rigid with said sleeves, longitudinally movable racks meshing with said gear sectors, cam actuated means for moving one of said racks, and means operable i by said one rack for moving the other of said versely tothe path of advancement of said mamember for supporting material adjacent said v.

needle to ybe sewn, means for advancing material to be sewn over said plate-like menrber, substantially aligned pivots disposed respectively in ad- Vance and in rear of said plate-like member, and means for shifting the advancing material back and forth across the plate-like member relative to said reciprocating needle to `produce zigzag stitches insaid material, including sleeves mounted to turn on said pivot elements and `having rigid arms extending toward the path of advancement of said material, rotatable elements carried by said arms at the free ends thereof and engageable with said advancing material, and means for turning said sleeves in unison on their pivot elements.

6. An attachment for a sewing machine having a vertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising a substantially horizontal plate-like member for supporting material adjacent said needle to .'be sewn, means for advancing material to be sewn over said plate-like member, substantially aligned pivots disposed respectively in advance and in rear of said plate-like member, and means for shifting the advancing material back and forth across the plate-like member relative to said reciprocating needle to produce zigzag stitches in said material, including sleeves mounted to turn on said pivot elements and having rigid arms extending toward the path of advancement of said material, rotatable elements carried by said arms at the free ends thereof and terial, including sleeves mounted to turn on said pivot elements and having arms extending toward the Vpath of advancement of said material, rotatable elements carried by said arms at the free ends thereof and engageable with said advancing material, gear sectors rigid with said sleeves, longitudinally movable racks meshing with said gear sectors, a rotary' cam for actuating one of said racks, means operable by said one rack for moving the other of said racks whereby said racks move in unison to actuate said gear sectors, a drive shaft, means 'operable by said drive shaft for actuating said cam, and means operable fby said drive shaft to actuate one of the cooperating rolls aforesaid.

'9. An attachment for a sewing machine having a vertically reciprocatingthreaded needle, comprising a substantially horizontal stationary plate-like member for supporting material adjacent said needle to be sewn, means for advancing material to be sewn over said plate-like member, and means for shifting the advancing material back and forth on the plate-like member in a direction substantially at right angles to the path of advancement thereof While the needle is reciprocating to produce zigzag stitches in said material, including substantially aligned rockably mounted rotatable elements disposed respectively in front and in rear of said plate-like member for engagement with said advancing material, and operatively connected means also in front and in rear of said plate-like member for rocking said rotatable elements in unison.

10. An attachment for a sewing machine having a vertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising a substantial1y horizontal plate-like member for supporting material adjacent said needle to be sewn,'means for advancing material to be sewn longitudinally over said plate-like ember, and means for shifting the advancing material transversely of the plate-like mem'ber relative to the needle while the needle is reciprocating to produce zigzag stitches in said material, including rotatable elements disposed respectively in front and in rear of said plate-like member for engagement with said advancing m-aterial, and means operable in timed relation to the advancement of the material for swinging all of said rotatable elements in unison, including longitudinally movable racks disposed respectively in advance and in rear of said plate-like member, and swingingly mounted supports for said rotatable elementshaving toothed portions meshing with said racks.

1l. An attachment for a sewing machine hav- Ving a vertically reciprocating threaded needle,

comprising a drive shaft, means operable by said shaft for advancing material to l@be sewed in a given direction beneath said needle, a cam operable by said shaft, operatively connected racks operable by said cam, pivotally mounted members having gear sectors operable .by said racks, and lmeans carried by said pivotally mounted members and operable when the gear sectors are operated by said racks to move the material beneath said needle transversely back and forth relativeV to the given direction aforesaid so that said threaded needle will provide the material with zigzag stitching.

12. An attachment for a sewing machine having a vertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising rotatable elements for advancing material to be sewed in a given direction beneath said needle, rotatable elements disposed respectively in front and in rear of said needle and op-Y erable while the material is being advanced to move said material transversely lback and forth relative to said given direction so that said threaded needle will provide the material with zigzag stitching, swingingly mounted supports for the last mentioned rotatable elements, longitudinally, movable members for actuating said swingingly mounted supports, a drive shaft, a .driving connection between said shaft and one of the first mentioned rotatable elements, a driving connection between said shaft and one of said longitudinally movable members, and a driving con-l nection between said one longitudinally movable member and the other of said longitudinally movable members.

13. An attachment for a sewing machine having a vertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising means for advancing material to be sewedin a given direction beneath said needle, means for moving the material .beneath said needle transversely back and forth relative to the given direction aforesaid so that said threaded needle will provide the material with a predetermined arrangement of stitching, including wheels disposed respectively in front and in rear of said needle, operatively connected racks disposed re-f spectively inA front and in re-ar of said needle, swingingly mounted supports for said wheels having toothed portions meshing with said racks, a

rotary cam for actuating one of'said operatively.

connected racks, a main drive shaft, a driving connection between said shaftl and advancing means, and a driving connection .fbetween said shaft and said rotary cam.

14. An attachment for a sewing machine having a vertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising a main drive shaft, means operable by said shaft for advancing material to be sewed in a given direction beneath said needle, means for moving the advancing material transversely back and forth relative to the given direction aforesaid so that said threaded needle will provide the material with a predetermined arrangement of stitching, including rotatable elements disposed respectively in front and in rear of said needle, operatively connected longitudinally movable members disposed respectively in front and in rear of said needle, swingingly mounted supports for said rotatable elements operablelby said longitudinally movable members, a cam for actuating one of said longitudinally movable members, and means operable by said drive shaft for actuating said cam.

15. An attachment for a sewing machine hav-l ing a vertically reciprocating threaded needle, comprising rollers for advancing material to be sewed in a given direction beneath said needle, spiked wheels disposed respectively in front and in rear of said needle and operable while the material is being advanced to move said material transversely back and forth relative to said given direction so that said threaded needle will provide the material with zigzag stitching, swingingly mounted supports for said spiked wheels having gear sectors, racks meshing with said gear sectors, a drive shaft for one of said rollers, a driving connection between said shaft, and one of said racks, and a driving connection between said one rack and the other of said racks.

CLARENCE J. DAVIES. 

